Tool retainer



Aug. 20, 1946. A. J. CALAMAN TOOL RETAINER Filed June 14, 1945 IINVEINTOR nwrllolvr J. Cfl l- (Mn/V ATTORNEY v Y Patented Aug. 20, 1946TOOL RETAINER V V v Anthony J L ,CaJaman, O svvego, N, Y; 7 ApplicationJune 4, 1945; seen No.]:599,479

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in toolretainers, and while primarily intended for use in connectionwith poweroperated hamm'ersyit will be obvious that the device may be employed forany other purposes when not in use, which is conveniently operable forsecuring and releasing the tool, which embodies relatively few parts,and which may be readily installed in hammers already ocnstructed aswell as form a component part of a new hammer structure.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the classstated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable and eflicient in its use, compact, positive in its action,attractive in appearance, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novelv construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatchanges in the form, proportions and details of construction may beresorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of rererence designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved tool retainer attached to a poweroperated hammer, parts of the latter being in cross section and brokenaway.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of the latching member and of the associatedlocking rod.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes a power hammer of the typenow in common use and operated by the use of air, steam, electricity orgasoline, in a manner well known in the art to which the inventionappertains. The hammer I includes the usual cylinder 2, which is formedwith a bore for the reception of the anvil 4, and with a socket 3 forthe reception of the shank 5, of the tool 6.

The cylinder 2 is provided with the usual pair icl iin '(cl. 279-191) ofapertured, lateral lugs I, which are. formed integral'withth'e formerand diametricallyop-i posed" relativelyto' each other. studs 8 and 9extend through respective lugs! and carry the absorber springs III, inthe usual manner. .1 The present invention comprises a substantiallyL-'shaped holding arm II, consisting of a vertically disposed portionI2, and a horizontally disposed portion I3. The upper end of the armportion .I2' is provided with 'a horizontally extending connecting headI4, which is formed with a threaded aperture I5 adapted for engagementon the threaded projecting end of the stud 8 to attach said connectinghead I4 against the under side of the associated lug I, as clearly shownin'Fig.1.' Y

The horizontal arm portion I3 is curved longitudinally outward, andprovided with a semihexagon shaped notch I3, which is disposed centrallyon the inner side thereof. The notch I3"- is' adapted for en aging thehexagon shaped tool 6, and consequently is shaped to. conform to thelatter;

The tool s is provided with the l afinfila'r" flange I6, which isdisposed at the point of junc ture with the tool shank 5. When the armII is in the holding position, the horizontal portion l3 thereof engagesthe tool 6 directly beneath the annular flange I6 in the notch I3,thereby allowing the flange IE to rest upon the said horizontal armportion l3 and preventing the escape or removal of the tool shank 5 fromthe hammer socket 3.

The attachment of the connecting head I4 with the stud 8, in the mannerstated, provides a pivotal connection for the holding arm II, and

permits the latter to be swung to the holding position as stated, or tothe releasing position, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2.

The free end of the horizontal arm portion I3 is provided with a head I!formed with an aperture l8. The head I1 is adapted to being securedbetween a pair of spaced, horizontally disposed jaws I9 and 20, whichare formed integral with the lower end of the connecting sleeve 2|. Thelatter is provided with a bore 22, the upper portion of which isthreaded, as at 23, for connecting said sleeve 2| to the threadedprojecting end of the stud 9 against the under side of the associatedlug I, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The jaws I9 and 20 are respectively prowded with apertures 24, which arealigned with the sleeve bore22. The diameter of the. jaw aperu or-n eThe cylinder" tures 24 is less than the diameter of the sleeve bore 22to provide a shoulder 25 between the upper jaw aperture 24 and thesleeve bore 22, for the purpose to be described.

A cylindrical latching member 26 is mounted and longitudinally slidablein the sleeve bore 22, and normally extends in the latching positionthrough the apertures 24 in the jaws l9 and 26. The upper end of thelatching member 26 is provided with an outwardly disposed annular flange21, which is adapted for engaging the shoulder 25 for preventing thelatching member 26 from passing entirely through the jaw apertures 24.The latching member 26 is provided with a deep pocket 26' for'seatingthe lowerend of a spiral actuating spring 28. The upper end-of thelatter is seated in a pocket 28, formed in the adjusting plug 30. Thelatter is threadedly enthe locked positions by pulling the locking rod32 outwardly until the inner end thereof clears rev 4 The latchingmember 26 is provided witha pair of circumferentially extending grooves,indicated at 33 and 34, which are adapted for en-' gagement by theprojecting inner end of the locking rod 32. When the upper groove 33 isengaged by the locking rod 32, as shown in Figure 3, thelatching member26 is locked in the latched position.- When the latching member 26 isforced to thereleased position, the locking rod 32 will engage in thelower groove 34 and lock said latching member 26 in the releasedposition. The latching member 26 is released from either ofspectivegrooves 33 and 34.

The present invention provides a most emcient device of'itszkind, whichis conveniently operable for holding or releasing the tool from gaged inthe threaded bore portion 23"and f'adjustable therein to'establish thedesired tension to .thespring28. The action of the spring 28 normallyforces the latching member 26 'downwardly to the latchingpositionthrough the jaw apertures 24, as shown in Figure 3.

flwhenthe arm I I is in the holding position, the

head I! thereof is disposed between the jaws l9 and 2B, and the aperture18 of said head I'Lis in exact registration with the jaw apertures 24,allowing the latching member 26 to extend 7 through both jaw apertures24 and through the head aperture l8, and thereby securing the arm llinthe holding'position, as clearly illustrated inFigu-re3. fl

To release'the arm head I! from the jaws l9 and 20, thelatching member26 is forced upwardly-into the sleeve bore 22, by means of any thehammer, whereby tool changing and manipulations are greatly facilitatedand expedited.

WhatIcIaimis:

In combination, a .tool retainer for a power operated hammer comprisinga holding arm having one end thereof pivotally attached to the: hammer,a connectingsleeve secure to the ham-- mer, a pair of spaced jawscarried bysaid con- 7 necting sleeve for receiving the free end of ,saidholding arm, a spring actuated latching-member connecting with saidsleeve and shiftable in the latter for securing and releasing said freeend of said holding arm, said latching memberrbeingprovided with a pairof circumferentially extending grooves disposed adjacent to respectiveends.

thereof, a spring controlled locking rod mounted in one of said pair ofjaws and normally operable-for engaging in one of said pair of groovesfor holding said latching member in the secured position and in theother of saidgrooves for holding the latching member in the releasedposition, and means mounted in said sleeve for adjusting the springactuating said latching member.

ANTHONY J. CALAMAN.

